On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Teamsters president Sean O’Brien joins Chuck to talk about the future of organized labor in an era defined by Amazon, automation, and artificial intelligence. O’Brien warns that AI-driven job displacement could be the central issue of the 2028 campaign, and he argues that technology is being adopted without worker input—repeating mistakes unions made during NAFTA, when labor put too much trust in political leadership. He stresses that unions must be transactional, not partisan, as Democrats increasingly balance business interests while Republicans like Marco Rubio and Josh Hawley show new, if uneven, openness to labor.

The conversation also dives into the political tightrope the Teamsters walk. With a membership that’s 65% behind Trump and Republicans, O’Brien explains why endorsing Kamala Harris was never on the table, why Democrats shouldn’t get credit for fixing problems they helped create, and how bad trade deals pushed states like Ohio from blue to red. From navigating tensions with other unions to weighing in on key 2026 races, O’Brien makes clear the Teamsters are willing to work with anyone who delivers for workers—and even open the door to college athletes unionizing by conference. This is a candid look at the shifting power and politics of America’s labor movement.

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Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Sean O’Brien joins the Chuck ToddCast

00:30 Teamsters have reputation of being a less partisan union

02:00 Teamsters have a very diverse membership

03:15 Amazon could be the biggest threat to organized labor

04:30 The threat of AI to workers

05:45 AI job displacement could be central issue to 2028 campaign

07:15 What leverage do the unions have when it comes to AI?

09:15 3 Democratic governments vetoed bills for automated trucks

12:30 How are unions dealing with technological change & automation

14:00 Technology is being adopted without input for labor

15:30 What mistakes did labor make during NAFTA negotiations?

16:45 Labor made a mistake trusting political leadership with NAFTA

18:00 Democrats used to be the party of labor, now also a party of business

19:00 Labor needs to be transactional and not partisan

21:30 Republicans like Rubio have become more friendly to labor

22:45 Has the Republican shift been rhetorical or substantive?

25:15 Josh Hawley was persuaded to stop supporting Right to Work

26:30 Bad trade deals caused Ohio to flip from blue to red

27:30 No explanation for why Sean wasn’t invited to the DNC

29:00 The Teamsters were never going to co-endorse Kamala Harris

31:15 Teamsters have 65% Republican membership

32:45 Labor is the last group taken care of during a bankruptcy

34:30 Democrats don’t deserve credit for fixing a problem they created

36:30 What’s the relationship like with other labor unions?

38:00 There is some ill-will from other unions for not endorsing Harris

39:00 An endorsement wouldn’t move the needle with the members

39:30 How can Democrats win back union members?

41:15 The split between members and leadership over supporting D’s

43:30 How can you trust the Republicans?

45:15 Teamsters will definitely weigh in on senate and house races in 2026

46:45 Teamsters would happily accept student athletes as union members

48:45 College football union membership would likely be by conference

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On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down the absurdity of the U.S. government repeatedly grinding to a halt over government shutdowns. He explains why disruptions like TSA slowdowns and flight delays could force a faster resolution, why this standoff likely won’t last beyond a couple of weeks, and how Republicans may try to negotiate, only to walk back agreements through budget rescissions—or even consider ending the filibuster to reopen government. Chuck also examines the Democrats’ post-Obama resilience, built on being seen as the “grown ups,” while Trump continues to erode norms, politicize governance, and set the tone for a crasser American culture. From the decisive swing of a 3-5 point “adult constituency” to Trump’s retributive budget plans, fundraising battles in Maine and Michigan, and even Trump’s transactional dealings with Qatar and Pfizer, this episode explores the fragile state of U.S. politics in an era where outrage is constant and functional governance feels increasingly out of reach.

Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews the upcoming weekend in college football.

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Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Introduction

01:15 Ridiculous for world’s superpower to have their government shut down

02:00 Flight delays, TSA issues could cause the fastest resolution

04:00 Would be surprising if shutdown lasts longer than a couple weeks

05:00 Vance signaled some willingness to negotiate

06:30 Republicans can agree to demands, then use recissions to renege

07:30 Republicans could end the filibuster and reopen the government

08:30 Nominations should require a 75 vote threshold build consensus

10:00 2013 shutdown got Terry McCauliffe elected as VA governor

11:15 Trump has politicized every aspect of governance

12:00 Russ Vought targeting cuts to only blue states in retribution

14:45 What has kept the Democrats competitive post-Obama?

15:30 Dems have benefitted from being considered the “grown ups”

16:00 Dem activists feel like playing by the rules hasn’t helped them

18:30 Six week clean CR proposal was reasonable

19:45 The “adult” constituency may be 3-5 points, and could be decisive

21:30 Trump’s behavior has been outrageous, but we’ve become numb to it

22:45 We’re in a “political depression”, have a barely functioning government

24:45 There’s no lines Trump won’t cross, there are lines the left won’t

26:15 American culture has become more crass under Trump

28:15 Our sense of decorum is being set by Trump and online MAGA

30:15 Graham Platner raised $3.2 million in Maine senate race

32:00 Is Janet Mills the strongest candidate to beat Susan Collins?

33:00 Being an “outsider” will likely outweigh ideology

35:00 Michigan democratic senate candidates all have strong fundraising

36:00 Trump offers NATO style security guarantees to Qatar

37:00 Airplane gift to Trump paying dividends for the Qataris

38:00 Pfizer agrees to name website TrumpRX

40:30 Trump nominee pulled after opposition from crypto world

42:30 Ask Chuck

42:45 Has anyone else ever started run for president as early as Trump? 50:15 Thoughts on use of centralized databases for voter rolls?

55:00 Why do government workers get back pay after a shutdown?

1:00:00 If Josh Shapiro dominates re-election could he leapfrog the Dem field?

1:03:15 College football preview

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As a bonus for Chuck ToddCast listeners, we’re sharing a special preview of Kamala: Next in Line, a six-part podcast from MSNBC and Wondery that goes inside the cross-cultural journey that led Senator Kamala Harris from her humble roots to become the first African-American woman to be the Vice Presidential nominee for a major party. From Oakland to Howard University, and California to Washington DC, experience her story as it has never been told before. Hosted by MSNBC's Joy Reid, the show features exclusive interviews with those who know her best, painting a picture of a woman who has fought her way to the top at every turn. Listen to the first episode, and subscribe to the series now: https://link.chtbl.com/description-kamala

Silvio Berlusconi was a charismatic multi-millionaire real-estate mogul who upended the Italian political order and hypnotized an entire nation. He was the longest-serving prime minister of one of the world’s wealthiest countries, until he was brought down by three powerful women - and two words: “Bunga Bunga.” From Wondery, the makers of Dirty John and The Shrink Next Door, and hosted by comedian Whitney Cummings, “Bunga Bunga” is an eight part series on the incredible true story of the rise and fall of Silvio Berlusconi, told with Whitney’s signature wit and style. 

Subscribe today: Wondery.fm/BungaBunga_NBCTC

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck unpacks the latest government shutdown and the political brinkmanship that created it. He explores how shutdowns—once unthinkable—have become a partisan weapon, wasting money while allowing leaders like Donald Trump to punish opponents and play to their base. With Democrats at risk of shouldering equal or greater blame, Chuck asks whether the public is even paying attention, and what role figures like Russ Vought could play in reshaping government permanently. Beyond the shutdown, the conversation turns to the bigger picture: why voters never saw Trump as an aberration, why 2020 wasn’t a full repudiation of 2016, and what Democrats must do to win back Trump voters in 2028. From Harris’s struggle to differentiate herself from Biden to Clinton’s careful dance with Reagan’s legacy, Chuck argues that Democrats may need to admit Trump identified real problems—even as his solutions and behavior, especially with military leaders, remain deeply troubling.

Finally, Chuck presents his ToddCast Top 5 senate races most likely to flip parties, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and recaps a frustrating night at the Cowboys/Packers game.

Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win!

Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Introduction - Government begins shutting down

01:15 Congress created shutdown conditions for political leverage

02:00 Could shutdown trigger the end of the senate filibuster rule?

02:45 Democrats have always messaged that shutdowns are bad

04:30 Democrats could shoulder equal or more blame for shutdown

06:30 Shutdowns are a massive waste of money

07:30 Trump seems excited for shutdown to punish opponents

09:15 Terrible trend of politicians only governing for their base

11:15 Independents are pretty sour on Trump’s presidency

13:00 Russ Vought at OMB could use shutdown to reorient gov’t permanently

14:30 Big danger for Democrats is whether the public is paying attention

15:30 Chuck Schumer is “Mitch McConnell” level unpopular

18:45 If Dems want to win in 28 they’ll have to win over some Trump voters

20:15 Democrats thought Trump was an aberration, voters didn’t

21:15 2020 wasn’t a repudiation of why Trump was elected in 2016

24:00 Voters don’t want status quo, which is why they elected Trump twice

26:15 Harris needed to prove she was different from Biden and didn’t

27:45 For Clinton to win, he couldn’t repudiate everything Reagan did

30:00 Trump’s behavior in front of military leaders was outrageous

31:30 The military leaders handled the situation exactly as they should

32:30 Hegseth lectured leaders of far higher rank than he earned in military

33:45 Democrats will have to admit that Trump correctly identified problems

34:45 Voters picked “political division” as the 2nd biggest problem after economy

37:30 ToddCast Top 5 Senate races most likely to flip parties

38:00 #1 North Carolina

39:45 #2 Georgia

41:45 #3 Michigan

43:30 #4 Maine

45:30 #5 New Hampshire

51:00 Honorable mentions

51:30 Ask Chuck

51:45 Why is the lie that shutdown is over money for illegal immigrants pervasive?

54:45 Democrats feeling disheartened after talking to Trump supporters?

58:45 Would the country be better off if Trump was reelected in 2020?

1:03:00 Will Des Moines superintendent arrest derail Iowa senate campaign?

1:04:45 Chuck's experience at Cowboys/Packers game in Dallas

1:10:00 It was a great weekend of college football

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On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, NewsNation host Leland Vittert opens up about his personal journey growing up on the autism spectrum, the struggles his family faced, and the lessons that shaped his outlook on life and journalism. From being misunderstood in school and learning to navigate social cues, to the pivotal role his mother played in holding the family together, Vittert reflects on why he chose to go public with his story and how his experiences inform his new book—a parenting guide told from the child’s perspective. He also explores how autism has served as both a challenge and, at times, a superpower in his career and personal life.

The conversation widens to America’s media landscape, where Vittert argues for a “radical center” approach and a journalism that calls balls and strikes on both sides rather than chasing flashy headlines. He stresses the importance of reviving local news, curating coverage around what matters most, and confronting the biases not only in how stories are told, but in which stories get told at all. This candid discussion is part memoir, part media critique, and a call for greater honesty—both in parenting and in public life.

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Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Leland Vittert joins the Chuck ToddCast

01:45 The public doesn’t grasp autism and child development issues
03:00 Autism wasn’t well understood in the 80s

03:45 Parents struggle to raise neurodivergent children

05:00 Adapting to the world you live in, not expecting world to adapt to you

06:45 Leland’s father didn’t want him to be defined by his disability

07:30 PE teacher put Leland in with the girls “to protect him”

08:15 The struggle with learning to pick up social queues

13:15 Everyone in DC always wanted to be student body president

14:00 Why go public with your story of being on the spectrum?

16:30 There’s a “parental reckoning” happening in America

17:30 There are lots of broken young men susceptible to radicalization

19:00 Nobody has definitive answers about causes of autism

21:15 Scientists need to be humble enough to say “I don’t know”
22:30 80% of parents with disabled children get divorced

24:30 Leland’s mother held the family together, hero of the story

26:30 Telling this story publicly is like going to therapy on live TV

28:00 How did you share the story of your autism with your wife?

31:00 You don’t “get over” autism

32:30 Where has autism showcased itself as a superpower in your life?

34:30 Book is a parenting book written from the child’s perspective

36:15 There’s no one answer to America’s media problem

37:45 What works and doesn’t work in the news media??

39:00 There is a “radical center” that’s sick of extremes on both sides

39:45 Journalists should call balls and strikes and call out both sides

41:45 Cable news tends to obsess over stories that are flashy over substantive

43:00 Journalists should curate stories that are most important

44:45 Bias isn’t just how you cover the news, it’s what you cover

46:30 Local news was a character reference for the national network journalists

48:15 How to revive local news/journalism?

51:00 Leland really put himself out there with this book

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